Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
| Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health area | |
| General information | |
| Type | Research Center |
| Location | 36°10′2.50″N 115°9′16.50″W / 36.1673611°N 115.1545833°W, 888 West Bonneville Avenue Las Vegas, Nevada 89106 United States |
| Construction started | February 9, 2007 |
| Completed | July 13, 2009 (patient care) May 21, 2010 (official completion) |
| Cost | est. $100 million |
| Owner | Keep Memory Alive |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Gehry Partners |
| Structural engineer | WSP Cantor Seinuk |
| Civil engineer | G.C. Wallace |
| Main contractor | The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company |
The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health (LRCBH) opened on May 21, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is operated by the Cleveland Clinic[1] and was designed by Frank Gehry.
History
Keep Memory Alive (also known as KMA) was founded by Larry Ruvo, senior managing partner of Southern Wines and Spirits, in memory of his father, Lou Ruvo, a victim of Alzheimer's disease, together with his wife Camille, Mirage Resorts CEO Bobby Baldwin (who also lost his father to Alzheimer's disease), and Bobby Baldwin's wife Donna. KMA supports the mission of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and has held several star-studded galas, attended by celebrities and notables from around the world. It has become one of Las Vegas's most important charity initiatives and a key participant in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.
Since its inception, the event has raised more than $20 million towards achieving its goal – the realization of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Funds committed by such supporters as the Spector Family Foundation, the Roland and Terri Sturm Foundation, Steinberg Diagnostics, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and America Online were utilized for the construction and continued operation of this state-of-the-art facility. The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health is a specialized outpatient neurological facility dedicated to research, clinical treatment, and education regarding various brain disorders. The center's primary areas of focus include Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunological disorders, and movement disorders such as Parkinson's and Huntington's disease.[2]
Design
The ceremonial groundbreaking of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health occurred on February 9, 2007. Dignitaries who attended the groundbreaking ceremonies for the $70 million project included founder Larry Ruvo, Frank Gehry, federal Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign; federal Representatives Shelley Berkley, Jon Porter and Dean Heller, Governor Jim Gibbons, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, former Governor Kenny Guinn, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kevin Spacey, and John Cusack.[3][4]
The Gehry design was described as "riotously sculptural" with opposing sections that allude to "the classic left-brain, right-brain dichotomy."[5] Others, however, suggested that it was an example of modern architecture unmoored from aesthetics, a "city unto itself" and "hideously awful."[6] It was described as the "most distinctive" building in Las Vegas in 2018.[7]
Operation
The center operates as an outpatient treatment and research facility in downtown Las Vegas on land deeded to Keep Memory Alive, the fund raising arm of LRCBH, by the City of Las Vegas as part of its 61 acres (25 ha) Symphony Park. The center is approximately 65,000 sq ft (6,000 m2) and includes 13 examination rooms, offices for health care practitioners and researchers, a "Museum of the Mind", and a community auditorium. The center also serves as the headquarters for Keep Memory Alive, the Las Vegas Alzheimer's Association and the Las Vegas Parkinson's Disease Association.
Gallery
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The west side of the building
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The north side of the building
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The atrium in the middle
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Inside the event space
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During construction in January 2009
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During construction in October 2009
See also
- Ray and Maria Stata Center, Massachusetts
- List of works by Frank Gehry
References
- ^ Cleveland Clinic to manage Lou Ruvo Brain Institute in Las Vegas Archived 2009-02-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Bernick, Charles. "Q&A with Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health". www.nevadaappeal.com. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
- ^ Katsilometes, John John Katsilometes on the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute's groundbreaking, Las Vegas Sun Archived 2007-01-21 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kevin Spacey, Teri Hatcher and Other Celebs Gather in Vegas to Raise $10-Million for Lou Ruvo Brain Institute Vegas Popular, February 9, 2007.
- ^ "Architecture review: Frank Gehry's Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas". Los Angeles Times. 2010-05-19. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
- ^ Dalrymple, Theodore (2025-07-08). "The Architecture of Arrogance – Theodore Dalrymple". Law & Liberty. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
- ^ Review-Journal, John Przybys Las Vegas (2018-02-03). "Lou Ruvo Center architect Frank Gehry awarded 'Design Icon'". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2025-09-05.